The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-06
FORT PILLOW, TENN.
AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION
OF THE COUNTRY
TberesbOuts and the MARKS Left
There by the Armies Of
che Rebellion,
isoaHrsropD.SsE or THE ArrEAb.l

larry from the waters edge to the
hight of 150 feet. Continuing with its
swags and depreFsions to Fulton four
miles, thence one mile below, when il
and sgain comes boldly
up at Randolph, the intervening fiat
being about three miles. Continuing
thence with its crescent shape and
swags six miles, it terminates abrupt
ly at a high point just above Richard
sons Landing, thst being the narrow
est, deepest and swifteet place, with it's
noted suck" from Cairo 10 New Or
leans. An ice gorge is there some
timer, extending twelve miles above,
and lasts one month. Men walk across
on the ice in front CT Randolph. Here,
at Fort Pillow, nothing remsins to in
dictate its historical i'm oortsnce to the
casual observer except fringes Of thick
tangled underground, mostly locusts
saplings, distinctly tracing the brea asst
works with the former a deep ditch
in 'FRONT.', running from opposite the
mouth OF Cole creek, on the left,
about one mile in circle, back to the
river on the right, being constructed
acute angles in places, designed to
enfilade the storming party or CROSS
FIRE. Intervening in this circle is pla-
teau 100 yards wide. 1t was intended,
probably, that tn 8 should be covered
with light artillery strongly supported
by infantry or by pivot guns mounted
within. In front of this fort, on the
opposite hill, all fronting east, is an
other small fort, indicated by fringee
OF trees, where two smooth bores of
very lsrge caiter lie, one being near.
ly out OF sight in the ground. There
were pivots to shoot in every direc-
ton. There are outer rifles pits half
mile, which extend in a circle of four
to six miles Three other cannons now
lie under the bluff, and q part ofan ex-
ploded one on the bluff. One hun.
bred feet has been washed in the
river since 1851. An old pistol, bayo-
net, curiously made rock pipe and
mans rib bone are on exhibition here,
and other relics are mentioned
by the citizens. The inner fort here
is certainly strong position, fronted
as 1t is by plateau extending all
around. Inc old Sugar loaf bill, where
Gen. VillepignN had his headquarters,
with Kinlock Former as adjutsnt, in
1862, is the most familiar object. 1t
rises abruptly on the edge of the bluff.
The fJrt, with its splendid armament,
officers and men. was fully a match
for the immense feet of gunboats and
mortars lying in the "baylike" river
in front. The old encampment OF the
Fourth Tennessee Infantry, or the
place, is easily re cognized, though in
the center oil large, narrow field.
This regiment was the first here, hav-
ing landed in the early summer. TIE
Memphis Southern Guards, Capt.
Hamil; ON, heavy artillery, may have
landed few days previous. Knox
Walkers Second Tennessee, the
bloody Second, all Irish, camped here
then. Other troops came and went
about the time, 1861. The gallant
Fourth, which enbse quent y distin-
guished itself at Shiloh, and were com-
plimented By Gen. B suregard, in its
celebrated dash at strongly support
ed battery land on other ssnguiuary
fields), WAS composed OF 1040 officers
and men, mostly single men, was su-
psrbly uniformed and thoroughly
drilled land presented sn imposing ap-I
pearance here on the parade ground,
with Lieutensn Colonel Srahl, Maj.
Henry and Adjuiant Hampton always
on the field. Brave old Col. Nicely
wss not as coed dill master as
Strahl, with his clarion voice. TheI
encampment was just above tie pres
ent Fort" tina companies being suit
ficiently apart to form streets, with
the captains quarters next to the|
river, and ali running southeast, ln|
tented lines, with the sloping grounds.
Four companies from Shelby had uni.
forms nearest alike. They were:
Shelby Grsys, Tennessee Guards OF
Memphis, Raleigh Volunteers and|
Wigfall Grsys. The Upton Rifle,
Lsuderdale IovinCibleJ, West Tonnes
see Rifles, Pillow Guards and a com.|
pany from Obion were well uniformed,
but of somewhat different cloth andI
different trimmings, One could see thel
"da,h" in these men ss theywere drawn
up on die 8 parade, with the lsmented|
Strahl at their head. Maj. Henry
made fine officer in appearance, andI
Adjutant Hampton was the beau ideal
of a line officer on parada. The com.
pany officers were full CT spirit and
life, walked like soldiers, and were
idolized by the men. Many OF the
county seats in West Tennessee were1
represented by these companies, anu
here they had many visitors and en-
loved themselves continuously. Their
sweethearts, wives, mothers and sis-
tiers often came in beautiful array, and
brought them everything that a poor
soldier" as they called them, needed.
1t would take pages to tell what they
did, and the many funny occurrences
that only young soldiers could "truml
up" The southern Guards, with
their red trimmed artillery uniform
and stylish officers, were q corps tnaY
had no superiors as soldiers. Thd
"bloody Second" were finely drlllsd
and feared nothing under the sun
The famous l54tb, l think, were herd
also, but lack Information ~
regard to them. No regiment in the
Confederate army we're more dla
tinguished, aud most OF them from
Memphis. NO Jruer VI pIaVoI HPulN
ever served in the legions OF Napoleon
than were cent out from the Blu1
City. These are only mentioned IN
connection with the eucampment here
in 1851. But few remain now since
the lapse of twenty-six years-even
their names on the beach trees have.
become unintelligible.
There are only three dwellings herd
at present and one store. The whole
of the laud around ia in cultivation.
The lumber business is the main ond
and there are over 800 logs lying herd
now, There are several stratas Of
black substance like stone coal at thd'
waters edge and upward, but it viii
not burn. The old bulls Of the Red
Wing and Alex. N tche !, that ran be-
tween st. Louis and st. Paul as packetsR
are here used to transport logs to 81
Louis. They carry together 400, 0OQ
feet. The derrick boat longside has
a horse aboard that draws the logs upt
as they are attached by hooks in tha
water midway the log. When up
few feet, being on a balance, they a!t
swung around and placed on th9
Iraoanort A loo 40X4 feet ia e9aily|